- A new agreement between Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn is set to advance plans for a direct high-speed train route from London to Germany.
- Under the new plan, travellers would be able to depart St Pancras International station on a four hour journey, before arriving in Cologne.
- The proposed voyage would remove the current transfer at Brussels-Midi.
- Upon launch, the new route will use Eurostar’s new double-decker Celestia fleet, which offers 20% more capacity and makes up to 50% in energy savings compared with its existing fleet.
High-speed train travel between London and Germany has moved one step closer, with Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn confirming plans for a direct rail connection in the coming years. The two organisations officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this week, outlining a joint intention to offer a direct long-distance service between London and major German cities.
Chief among the proposed destinations is Cologne (Köln), a bustling cultural hub set against the stunning Rhine River. Under the new plan, passengers travelling to Germany would no longer need to transfer at Brussels-Midi. Instead, they would be able to travel directly from St Pancras International station, arriving in Cologne roughly four hours later.
Speaking on the partnership, Eurostar CEO Gwendoline Cazenave explained that the joint partnership was critical in ensuring long-term success for the project. Direct long-distance rail passenger services between the UK and Germany have traditionally been challenging to implement by individual railway undertakings. The MoU suggests positive change is on the way.
“We’re thrilled to kick off this partnership with DB. It’s a big step towards making travel between London and Germany more sustainable and effortless,“ Cazenave said. “By combining Eurostar’s cross-channel know-how and new fleet with DB’s strong presence in Germany, we’re creating a whole new level of connectivity and convenience for our customers. This partnership will help continue to power Eurostar’s growth and bring us closer to our goal of carrying 30 million passengers across our network.“
Eurostar London to Germany Direct Train
The announcement follows the first meeting of the joint UK-Germany taskforce in Berlin last month, however despite hosting the meeting, the German capital will not feature prominently in the plans. At this stage, there are no designs to explore a London to Berlin express route, with Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn instead focusing on commercial hubs such as Cologne and Frankfurt.
Travel between the UK capital and Frankfurt, Germany’s thriving economic hub, is currently limited to cheap flights and multi-connection rail journeys. Flying between the two cities takes around one hour and 30 minutes, however a direct London-Frankfurt service would undoubtedly offer greater choice for corporate travellers.
Michael Peterson, member of the management board for long distance passenger transport at DB said that the latest agreement was designed with travellers in mind, offering more choice, comfort, and a sustainable alternative to flying.
“Europe is coming together ever more closely by rail,“ Peterson said. “In cooperation with Eurostar, we also want to bring Germany and the UK closer together at high speed. We are convinced of the great potential of such a direct connection. However, this project also shows that new cross-border long-distance services are often only possible through partnerships like this, due to complex framework conditions.“
London to Germany Rail Launch
For guests looking to travel between London and Germany, the proposed rail route is a significant win, however, it will be some time before the voyage is up and running. The suggested journey isn’t likely to launch until the early 2030s, provided that the necessary technical, operational, and legal conditions are met.
At present, those challenges are largely logistical, following the UK’s much-publicised 2020 Brexit. German stations will be required to establish dedicated terminal facilities for UK border controls and security screening, further adding to the bureaucratic complexity of the task. Should the new agreement go off without a hitch, the London to Germany direct train will arrive just in time to take advantage of Eurostar’s updated double-decker Celestia fleet.
Eurostar Celestia
Built on a bespoke design created from Alstom’s Avelia Horizon platform, the recently unveiled 200-metre trains are set to be interoperable across the five countries currently serviced, as well as new destinations Geneva and Frankfurt. While not quite The Ghan, the design itself boasts a 20 per cent increase in seat capacity (around 540 seats), with Eurostar claiming the Celestia models will produce 20 to 50 per cent energy savings compared to the current fleet.
Speaking on the partnership, UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander suggested that the agreement has the potential to completely revolutionise travel for Brits and Europeans.
“This partnership between Eurostar and Deutsche Bahn has the potential to transform cross border rail travel in Europe for generations to come,“ Alexander said. “I’m delighted that following productive discussions with my German counterpart in the summer, we are speeding ahead with our ambitions to change how millions of people travel between our two countries. A direct rail link will support the creation of jobs, strengthen vital trade links and build a sustainable connection that will make international travel easier and greener.“
